Not Just Kid Stuff: Social Networking for Business

Online networking isn't just for the high school and college kids anymore. In the past few years, online networking has become one of the best, easiest and cheapest ways to get noticed on the web. Websites like LinkedIn, Facebook, MySpace and various online forums have rapidly become serious assets for businesses and people - especially those who are trying to gain more recognition and reach a larger audience among groups they may not have had such access to in the traditional world of networking.

However, these networking sites can be just as harmful as they are helpful. Remember, your page is your first impression and just about anyone using a search engine can stumble onto your page. Suppose you are on one of these sites to boost your professional/business image and gain useful contacts and clients. There are definitely a lot of things that tweens, teens, etc., include in their profiles that you should definitely not incorporate into yours.

Here are some suggestions for creating a successful professional page:

A picture is worth a thousand words. It's the first thing people look at when they go to your website. Your page should be professional -- keep it that way. Leave the pictures of you chugging beers at the family barbeque in the scrapbook and opt for a few professional photographs.

Make yourself accessible. On many of these sites, there are options that block people from seeing your profile unless you are "friends" with them. When promoting yourself, you don't want people to have to wait until you accept them as a friend to see your page. The longer they wait, the quicker they will lose interest. Keep it public.

Background check. Let people know what you're about. You can include some personal information that gives insight about you. Just don't overdo it. Share personal information that will increase credibility in your field of expertise. Explain more about your business and include other contact information -- in case a potential client/customer is interested in contacting you.

Comments are a great way to keep in touch with contacts. Don't be fooled by the seemingly casual nature of "comment walls," as they are called. Be friendly, but not too friendly, offensive or sloppy in your posts.

Take an "application" vacation. Many sites allow you to add cute, quirky little applications to your page. While some of these might be fun and useful in maintaining relationships with other users, don't bog down your page with every single application request that comes your way. You are also notified when someone sends you something. You then have the option to accept it to your page or deny it. Use your better judgment when choosing to allow applications to post.

Feed me. Some of these sites have news feeds that tell you what your friends have been up to on the website and tell your friends what you have been up to. Err on the side of caution and don't do something on the site that could potentially upset someone. If you don't want your entire friend community to know something, send private messages to just a chosen few who need this information.

Keep in mind that not all of these sites may be right for you. There are networking sites that are completely professional and specialized for your industry, as well as generic ones that include a diverse community of people with different lifestyles. Research the ones interest you and could be the most beneficial for you and your business. Keep your accounts to a minimum though. It can be difficult to maintain relationships if you have too many profiles to keep up with.

Editor's note: I've done my best to make sure these contacts and their details are accurate. But remember, it's best to check to make sure!